Jutta Wellmann has worked an impressive 43 years at the Landrat Lucas Grammar School in Leverkusen-Opladen. The long-standing school coordinator at the Bayer 04 partner school ended her role on 30 June and was given a fitting departure from the school service on her final working day. A large number of colleagues organised a journey through her places of activity and the hired Bayer 04 Schwadbus stopped at the school and the sports college, Bayer AG, TSV Bayer 04 and the Kurtekotten Performance Centre.
Fortunately, Wellmann will continue to work for Bayer 04 and carry on looking after the talents of the Werkself at the sports college and in the club. In the past she has shown great commitment in supporting the numerous young talents on their dual path. That includes Kai Havertz, Danny da Costa, Benjamin Henrichs, Pauline Wimmer, Pauline Machtens and recently Florian Wirtz. We congratulate you on your impressive professional career and wish you all the best for the future, Jutta.
The Bayer 04 club history is a year older. The Works club from Leverkusen celebrates 117 years on 1 July. A lot of Werkself fans have taken the opportunity to send their congratulations via social media. For example, 'Tine' rights: "Since I started being excited about football many years ago, my football heart has been beating for this club. In spite of highs and lows, I don't regret a second!" Here's to many more years with you, dear fans!
After the announcement of the move for Gianna Rackow to RB Leipzig, another player in the Bayer 04 Women's team is joining the ambitious second division side. Defender Frederike Kempe has penned a contract to 2023 in Saxony. The 24-year-old signed for Leverkusen in 2015 from FSV Gütersloh. Good luck to you both.
As announced by the streaming service DAZN this week, the Women's Champions League will be freely accessible from next season on an independent YouTube channel. Three teams from the FLYERALARM Women's Bundesliga will be in the competition in 2021/22. The champions Bayern Munich are joined by VfL Wolfsburg and TSG Hoffenheim.
The Bayer 04 Women ended last season two points behind a Champions League qualifying place in the Bundesliga. Finishing fifth with an impressive 33 points represents a record season for the Women in the club's history.
Finally we have a Black and Red video tip for you. Bayer 04 TV brings you the best moments from and with Aleksandar Dragovic who will play for Red Star Belgrade next season after five years with the Werkself. In addition, the Austrian sends a personal farewell message to the Bayer 04 fans. Much success for the future, Drago. HERE is the video...
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have appointed Carles Martínez Novell as the new head coach. The 42-year-old Spaniard worked for FC Toulouse in the French Ligue 1 until the end of the season. Martínez finished last term in ninth place with the club from the south of France. He will take over the Werkself on 1 July 2026 and has signed a contract to 30 June 2028. Martínez, whose contract with Toulouse expires at the end of the month, succeeds Kasper Hjulmand at Leverkusen, who is leaving the club after one season.
Show more
Bayer 04 plans for the 2026/27 pre-season continue to take shape. The Werkself will kick off the new season in mid-July with the return to the training ground. The highlight will be the official season opener on 8 August at the BayArena, including a friendly against La Liga club Sevilla. Friendlies in Germany will take the team to neighbouring Monheim, Offenbach and Jena.
Show more
Strengthening the Bayer 04 Leverkusen youth teams: Konstantinos Kotsifakis will join the Werkself from Bundesliga 2 club Hertha Berlin for the 2026/27 season, where he will be a permanent member of the Leverkusen U19 coaching set-up. The German-Greek will also take on an operational role in coaching the Bayer 04 Future Team. The 29-year-old was most recently head coach of the U17s at Hertha Berlin.
Show more
Another award for the Bayer 04 head groundsman and staff: After coming top in the 2021/22, 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons, the BayArena pitch came second in the Bundesliga Pitch of the Year ranking for the 2025/26 season. VfL Wolfsburg secured the top spot this year, with TSG Hoffenheim in third place.
Show more
Opening opponents, derby weekends, the opponents in the season finale: This information and more will be available to Bayer 04 fans on Thursday, 2 July, when the 2026/27 Bundesliga fixture list is published.
Show more
